1) Exhibition game: Yermolinsky-Shulman Today

MI Grandmaster-in-Residence Alex Yermolinsky will face off with Dallas
GM Yury Shulman this evening, May 7. The game will start at 5:15 and last
approximately two hours. The two players will be located in different parts
of the club with a runner ferrying moves. During the game the two
Grandmasters will explain their thoughts to the audience. Admission is
free for all.

2) Shipman wins Spring Tuesday Night Marathon

Experience triumphed over youth as IM Walter Shipman defeated NM Egle
Morkunaite in the last round of the Spring Tuesday Night Marathon. The
73-year-old Shipman, ranked number 11 in the country for players 65 or
over at 2259, scored 7-1 to become the oldest winner ever of the Marathon.
Morkunaite, a student from Lithuania, would have been the first female to
win this event if she had won.

Second place was taken by another veteran, 65-year-old NM Igor Margulis
(#13 in the US on the 65 or over list), who defeated NM Peter Thiel in
the last round to finish on 6 1/2. His only lost was to Shipman in round
7. Veterans would have made a clean sweep, but for top-seed FM Frank
Thornally, who defeated 71-year-old NM Victor Ossipov (#24 in the US
at 2202) in the last round. This win created a log jam at 6 points, with
Thornally, Ossipov, Morkunaite, NM David Blohm, NM Win Aung Ye and Expert
Peter Grey sharing third place.

The Summer Marathon starts on May 27.

3) Mezentsev first in Mechanics' Masters/Expert Open

Senior Master Vladimir Mezentsev won the Mechanics' Masters/Expert Open
held May 3rd and 4th. Mezentsev scored 3 1/2 from 4 to take home $425.
He won first two games, drew with FM Adrian Keatinge Clay in round
three and defeated NM Richard Koepcke in the money round. Tying for
second at 3-1 were IM Ricardo De Guzman, FMs Bela Evans and Adrian
Keatinge-Clay and Expert Anthony Rosenvasser. NM Koepcke finished
out of the money at 2 1/2 but had an excellent result defeating
top seed DeGuzman and drawing IM Walter Shipman. Complete standings
for the 20-player event can be found at
http://www.chessclub.org/1MasterX03.html.
Anthony Corrales and John Donaldson directed for the Mechanics'.

4) Perelshteyn wins the Generation Chess International

John Henderson writes in his excellent column in The Scotsman:

The Generation Chess International tournament at New York's famed Manhattan
Chess Club was won by American International Master Eugene Perelshteyn,
who dominated the novel event aimed at eradicating from the game the farce
of the 'grandmaster draw'.

Despite a last round loss to Estonian top seed Jaan Ehlvest, Perelshteyn's
margin of victory over his nearest rivals was a full point - a performance
that also secured the University of Maryland Baltimore County student and
team captain a grandmaster norm.

The new-styled event prohibited players from making draw offers before move
50; the only caveat being that of a repetition (or even stalemate), of which
the tournament only had five. Most of the games from the tornament turned
out to be hard-fought encounters as many of the players were forced into
"re-discovering" the endgame in chess. By its conclusion, nearly
80% of the games (with an average of 51 moves per game) proved decisive
compared to the more usual figure of 50% in such events.

The worst offending tournament on record for the abuse of GM draws was the
1999 Petrosian Memorial, where the ten players "competing" found
a fitting way to pay tribute to the 9th world champion Tigran Petrosian -
they managed 42 draws from 45 games, and at an average of just 26 moves!

JD adds - IM Irina Krush narrowly missed her second GM norm in this event,
drawing in the last round with IM Stephen Muhammad. IM Varuzhan Akobian
of Glendale, bounced back from defeats in the first two rounds to finish
on 50 percent.

5) Chess in San Francisco 1856

Well-known chess historian keeps making amazing discoveries about chess in
old San Francisco. Here he uncovers a gave played just a few years after
the end of the Gold Rush.

Grotjan,T - Schleiden,P [C44]
San Francisco, 1856

Played in 1856 (but never before published) between Professor Schleiden,
president of the German Chess Club, San Francisco, and T.J. Grotjan, of
the Pioneer Club. The German Club had won a supper in a match by
correspondence with the Pioneer Club, and this game was played over
the board for another supper, each club selecting a player.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4

This is not a very usual move, 4.Nxd4 is usually played. Mr. Stiebel played
Mr. Home (London Chess Monthly, Vol. II, page 114) 4.Bc4 followed by Ng5
with great success.

4...Bc5 5.c3 Nge7 6.cxd4 Bb6 7.Nc3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3

We think this move rather weak, we prefer 9.Be3.

9...Bg4 10.Be3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3

Rather than lose the d-pawn, we should have prefered to have taken with
g-pawn.

11...Nxd4 12.Qd1 Ne6 13.Bxb6 axb6 14.Qg4 c6 15.f4 d5

This is not a good move, as it affords White to open a very strong
attack; ...b5 trying to drive the White bishop out of the line we think
would have been better or ...Kh8.

FM Bela Evans and NM Roger Poehlmann continue to lead the Thursday Masters. Evans has 2 from 3 and Poehlmann 1 1/2 from 2 (plus a bye).

Very best wishes from the MI staff to NM Vivek Nambiar of Milpitas on his upcoming marriage on May 15 in his native India. Vivek (vnambiar2@yahoo.com) invites all his friends at the MI to attend.

The London Financial Times (4/30/03) reports that the International Monetary Fund announced that Ken Rogoff, its chief economist, would be leaving the Fund in autumn to return to academia. He will be returning to Harvard to reach and do research. Grandmaster Rogoff played in several US Championships and was a participant in the 1976 Interzonal in Biel.

Newsletter reader NM Alex Betanelli of Madison reports that he will be holding a camp this summer.

CAMP SITE: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel (4747 Howell Avenue, Milwaukee,
WI53207, 414-615-8052). This is one of the best hotels in the country. All
meeting rooms are air-conditioned. All sleeping rooms have refrigerators. FREE
shuttle from airport is provided.

ELIGIBILITY: Players of all strengths and ages are encouraged to attend.
Ifchildren under 12 want to stay overnight, then their parents need to
makespecial arrangements with the organizer.

DAILY ACTIVITIES: Chess lectures, seminars, informal discussions, and
manytournaments (slow, quick, blitz, bughouse, team: trophies and medals
asprizes). Hotel has two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), there will
beoutside sport activities ranging from walking in the park to playing tennis
andsoccer. All instructors will also promote their favorite hobbies!

STUDY WITH GM: for B class players (and other players who are very
serious)special extra sessions with GM Alex Goldin will be available in the
evening.

COST: $300 for five and half days of instruction. Personal feedback will
beprovided and individual improvement plans will be worked out for all
students.All participants will receive copies.FOOD: for $100 three daily meals
plus snacks and juices will be provided.

HOTEL: five nights total is $150 if you wish to stay in a double room
(twobeds,one roommate), $75 if you wish to say in a quad room (two beds, 3
roommates).Please indicate if you would like to have a specific roommate.
PLEASE RESERVEHOTEL THROUGH THE ORGANIZER TO GET THESE EXCELLENT RATES.
Contact: AlexBetaneli abetaneli@hotmail.com or Alex Betaneli, WI ACADEMY OF
CHESS, PO Box260143, Madison, WI 53726

INFORMATION: Alex Betaneli best way is email abetaneli@hotmail.com, -
secondbest is ICC (Aristophones) phone is distant third 608-233-0923

7) Upcoming Events

Charles Powell: May 17
Stamer Memorial: June 6-8
William Addison: June 28

Scholastic Quads: May 31

West Coast National Events

Championship Qualifier
A Heritage Event!
An American Classic Event!
June 13-15: 2003 National Open WGPP: 200Q Nevada 6SS, 40/2, SD/1
(scholastic and unrated sections 12-RDSS G/90). Riviera Hotel and Casino,
2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. $53,000 Prize Fund is
Fully Guaranteed and will not be reduced. Championship. $$G: $5000-2500-
1200-600-300-150-150-150-150-150, U2500 $1100, U2400 $1000, U2300 $900.
The winner of the Championship section receives a replica of the Edmondson
Cup. 5 points wins at least $500, 4-1/2 wins at least $200. Under 2200:
$$G: $2500-1200-600-300-150-75-75-75-75-75, U2100 $900. Under 2000: $$G:
$2500-1200-600-300-150-75-75-75-75-75, U1900 $900. Under 1800: $$G:
$2500-1200-600-300-150-75-75-75-75-75, U1700 $900. Under 1600: $$G:
$2500-1200-600-300-150-75-75-75-75-75, U1500 $900. Under 1400: $$G:
$1500-700-350-200-100-50-50-50-50-50, U1300 $600. Under 1200: $$G:
$1000-500-250-150-100-50-50-50-50-50, U1100 $400, U1000 $200. Unrated:
Open to players with no published USCF (or convertible international)
rating. $500-250-125-75-50. Unrated prizes are USCF Gift Certificates.
Scholastic Under 1200: Open to players in grades K-12 rated under 1200.
Trophies to top 10 and top 5 in each 100 point rating group. All Sections:
5 points in any section (10 in unrated) wins at least 10% of first prize.
Plus score bonus ($$G 8000) in addition to any other prizes: every player
who finishes with 3-1/2 points (6-1/2 in unrated or scholastic section)
or better wins a $25 USCF gift certificate. Plus score certificates will
be given on site only. EF: (except scholastic and unrated) $95 by 5/26,
$125 by 6/11, $150 on site. $30 off advance entry fee only for Juniors
under 20 or Seniors over 65. Scholastic EF: $49 by 5/26, $69 by 6/11,
$85 on site. Unrated EF: $65 by 5/26, $80 by 6/11, $100 on site. This
is an open tournament - you may play in any section at or above your
rating level, unrated players may play only in Championship, Unrated or
Scholastic section (if age eligible). CCA minimum ratings may be used if
higher than USCF June Supplement. Reg: 6-8 pm. Thursday June 12, 9-10:30
a.m. Friday June 13. Rds: 12-7, 10-5, 10-5. Late schedule: rounds 1 and 2,
G/60, at 7 and 9:30 Friday. Add $1 to EF for this option. Not available in
scholastic and unrated sections. Half point byes available in any round,
but 5th or 6th round 1/2 point byes must be requested before the start of
round 2. Add 50 cents to advance EF for 1st round 1/2 point bye only.
Chess sets and boards provided for tournament play only; not for skittles.
Please bring chess clocks! Many free extras and surprises! Free parking.
Free airport shuttle for players only. Blitz tournament Thursday evening,
June 12th, 80% of EF returned as prizes. Chess Camp Thursday June 12th.
Free raffle with great prizes. Free lectures by GM Ron Henley. Free
analysis of your games. Come early for Grandmaster SIMULS Thursday at
3:30 p.m. New LOW room rates! HR: $69 single or double includes free
tickets to one of three Mardi Gras Riviera Las Vegas Shows Wednesday
or Thursday. 1-800-634-6753 or (702) 734-5110. DonŠt be shut out; make
your reservations early and be sure to ask for the chess rates; the
Riviera sells out most weekends. Cutoff for special hotel rate is May
26th. Special $69 rates after cutoff only if rooms available! Credit
card or one night room deposit will be required to hold reservation,
refundable if reservation canceled 72 hours in advance. For travel
discounts check our website or contact Classic Travel at Email:
joet_classic@hotmail.com or (630) 980-7900. Tournament Registration:
U.S. Chess Federation, 3054 RTE 9W, New Windsor, NY 12553, Attention:
National Open Entries. Credit card entries accepted 8am-9pm Eastern
at 1-800-388-KING Info: Alan Losoff (847) 858-7778, evenings central
time, Email: Alan@Losoff.com, or Web: http://www.64.com/natlopen/. W. FIDE.

If mailed by 7/26 or paid by phone, fax or online with credit card by 7/30.
$190 Traditional
$189 Matinee 1st half
$187 8-day
$186 6-day
$185 Busy Player
On site $220.
Registration closes 2 hours before 1st round in each schedule.
USCF Membership is required and must be current. You may pay USCF membership with your entry or on site.
Regular Adult Memberhip, $49/year includes CHESS LIFE (12 issues)
Senior Membership Age 65 & over, $36/year includes CHESS LIFE (12 issues)
Youth Membership Age 19 and under, $25/year includes CHESS LIFE (12 issues)
Scholastic Membership Age 14 and under, $19/year, includes CHESS LIFE (5 issues + Yearbook)
Other membership categories available.
Advance entries must include player's name and all fees to be accepted.
Mail Entries to
U.S. Open Championship
U.S. Chess Federation
3054 RTE 9W
New Windsor, NY 12553.
Make Checks payable to USCF.
To enter by phone call (800) 388-KING.
Secure On Line Registration will be available soon.
All entries received will be posted here.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged.